Bruguru's Full Review: Philips SHE9500 Consumer Headphones
For over a year now, my headphones of choice have been the Philips HE-592 set. For as little as $15 now (at Wal-Mart), these headphones deliver clear, crisp sound and amazing three-dimensional recreation of your favorite music. I’ve actually been through two pairs (I lost one), and it’s a statement in itself how good these are that I bought them again.
Recently, though, I trudged off to Best Buy to pick up another set since the kids were borrowing mine on a fairly regular basis. When I got there, I noticed something new: the Philips SHE9500 in ear headphones. Perusing the packages, it appeared that these headphones seemed to build on the technology of my old HE-592 set. At $30, they are twice the price, but I decided to purchase them anyway.
I’m glad I did. After putting them to the test with my Philips HDD6330 GoGear and Apple ipod and most recently Microsoft Zune , I was very impressed with the high quality sound they deliver. These days too, $30 is not much at all for a pair of headphones when some in-ear models by Bose and Shure can run you anywhere from $100 to $500. Even simple ipod replacement phones run $40 to $50, and they are not what I would consider a bargain at the price.
Initial Impressions-Sound
The first thing I was looking for when I popped the SHE-9500s into my ears was the 3-D sound I was accustomed too with the HE592s. To my relief, it was there, though perhaps not to the degree it is delivered by the 592s. That’s Ok, however, because where the SHE9500s outperform the older headphones is in the area of bass response.
The SHE9500s are ported for bass response and multi-directional sound. But they also use neodymium magnet drivers to boost bass, and I could really tell the difference. While you won’t get the type of bass response that is the hallmark of quality loudspeakers, you do get a better sense of bass here than many other headphones I’ve tried deliver. Higher frequencies are well produced, too (specs for the purists: 6-23,500 HZ). The end result: full, rich, and “realistic” sound.
The passive noise isolation also works to improve sound quality by blocking out unwanted external noise. To be sure, these are not noise-canceling headphones. Instead, they rely on a snug placement of the rubber fittings on the earbuds in the ear to act as “plugs” against outside noise. But they work enough to ensure you hear more of what you do want, and less of what you don’t. Then too, you can listen at lower without trying to overpower outside noise, which is better for your long term hearing.
I listened to several varieties of music: booming symphonies, soft and subtle Christmas carols, hard-driving classic rock, sound-effect laden pop-it all sounded great with my preferred EQ settings on my players. Even at the higher volumes I detected little if any distortion. Sometimes, I would almost forget I had headphones on, lost in a seeming roomful of sound.
Design
The earbud portions of the headphones are very compact, and consist of a small post upon which the tiny drivers rest. The small, soft rubber fittings that rest in your ears snap gently onto the drivers. I like the way they hold snugly in the ears; nothing bothers me more than headphones that constantly slide out during a workout.
The cord has an asymmetrical design that allows for a better fit around the neck. Also of interest is the fact that the cord is segmented: it is actually bifurcated into two sections. The segments are of approximate equal length, and this design allows you to choose a shorter length if you like. The two segments actually snap together via a standard jack connector; the plugs are plated with 24K gold for better conduction. The added benefit is that if the first segment connector wears out (which is usually what ends the useful life of a set of phones), you can still plug the second section in and use your phones.
The cord itself is fashioned from a thin and flexible rubber wire that, frankly, seems a bit flimsy. It is flexible, and that should be a good thing, since it seems to bend and flex rather than break. Only time will tell if this is a plus or a minus, but a few solid tugs I gave did not seem to harm the cord at all.
Extras
The SHE9500s come with two extra sets of ear plug fittings in various sizes to assure the perfect fit. A small plastic carrying case that snaps open and closed has fitted compartments that hold the earbuds only (which is great: it keeps them from tangling); a small felt pouch is also included for carrying the phones, cord, case, and all.
Overall
I am very impressed with the SHE9500 headphones. They deliver rich, full sound with a touch of 3-D realism all the while blocking out some of the unwanted background noise that can ruin your listening experience. They’re perfect for home use and great for exercise and outdoor listening as well. For $30, they’re a bargain, too, and a worthy partner for your portable music device.
Four and a half stars, but for Epinions purposes I have to give five.
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